Title 49—Transportation--Volume 1
PART 106—RULEMAKING PROCEDURES
§ 106.5   Defined terms used in this subpart.
The following defined terms (see part 105, subpart A, of this subchapter) appear in this subpart: File; Person; State.
§ 106.10   Process for issuing rules.
(a) PHMSA (“we”) uses informal rulemaking procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) to add, amend, or delete regulations. To propose or adopt changes to a regulation, PHMSA may issue one or more of the following documents. We publish the following rulemaking documents in the Federal Register unless we name and personally serve a copy of a rule on every person subject to it:
(1) An advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
(2) A notice of proposed rulemaking.
(3) A final rule.
(4) An interim final rule.
(5) A direct final rule.
(b) Each of the rulemaking documents in paragraph (a) of this section generally contains the following information:
(1) The topic involved in the rulemaking document.
(2) PHMSA's legal authority for issuing the rulemaking document.
(3) How interested persons may participate in the rulemaking proceeding (for example, by filing written comments or making oral presentations).
(4) Whom to call if you have questions about the rulemaking document.
(5) The date, time, and place of any public meetings being held to discuss the rulemaking document.
(6) The docket number and regulation identifier number (RIN) for the rulemaking proceeding.
§ 106.15   Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
An advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) tells the public that PHMSA is considering an area for rulemaking and requests written comments on the appropriate scope of the rulemaking or on specific topics. An advance notice of proposed rulemaking may or may not include the text of potential changes to a regulation.
§ 106.20   Notice of proposed rulemaking.
A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) contains PHMSA's specific proposed regulatory changes for public comment and contains supporting information. It generally includes proposed regulatory text.
§ 106.25   Revising regulations without first issuing an ANPRM or NPRM.
PHMSA may add, amend, or delete regulations without first issuing an ANPRM or NPRM in the following situations:
(a) We may go directly to a final rule or interim final rule if, for good cause, we find that a notice of proposed rulemaking is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. We must place that finding and a brief statement of the reasons for it in the final rule or interim final rule.
(b) We may issue a direct final rule (see § 106.40).
§ 106.30   Final rule.
A final rule sets out new regulatory requirements and their effective date. A final rule will also identify issues raised by commenters in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking and give the agency's response.
§ 106.35   Interim final rule.
An interim final rule is issued without first issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking and accepting public comments and sets out new regulatory requirements and their effective date. PHMSA may issue an interim final rule if it finds, for good cause, that notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. PHMSA will clearly set out this finding in the interim final rule. After receiving and reviewing public comments, as well as any other relevant documents, PHMSA may revise the interim final rule and then issue a final rule.
§ 106.40   Direct final rule.
A direct final rule makes regulatory changes and states that the regulatory changes will take effect on a specified date unless PHMSA receives an adverse comment within the comment period—generally 60 days after the direct final rule is published in the Federal Register .
(a) Actions taken by direct final rule. We may use direct final rulemaking procedures to issue rules that do any of the following:
(1) Make minor substantive changes to regulations.
(2) Incorporate by reference the latest edition of technical or industry standards.
(3) Extend compliance dates.
(4) Make noncontroversial changes to regulations. We must determine and publish a finding that use of direct final rulemaking, in this situation, is in the public interest and unlikely to result in adverse comment.
(b) Adverse comment. An adverse comment explains why a rule would be inappropriate, or would be ineffective or unacceptable without a change. It may challenge the rule's underlying premise or approach. Under the direct final rule process, we do not consider the following types of comments to be adverse:
(1) A comment recommending another rule change, in addition to the change in the direct final rule at issue, unless the commenter states why the direct final rule would be ineffective without the change.
(2) A frivolous or irrelevant comment.
(c) Confirmation of effective date. We will publish a confirmation document in the Federal Register, generally within 15 days after the comment period closes, if we have not received an adverse comment. The confirmation document tells the public the effective date of the rule—either the date stated in the direct final rule or at least 30 days after the publication date of the confirmation document, whichever is later.
(d) Withdrawing a direct final rule. (1) If we receive an adverse comment, we will either publish a document withdrawing the direct final rule before it becomes effective and may issue an NPRM, or proceed by any other means permitted under the Administrative Procedure Act.
(2) If we withdraw a direct final rule because of an adverse comment, we may incorporate the adverse comment into a later direct final rule or may publish a notice of proposed rulemaking.
(e) Appeal. You may appeal PHMSA's issuance of a direct final rule (see § 106.115) only if you have previously filed written comments (see § 106.60) to the direct final rule.
§ 106.45   Tracking rulemaking actions.
The following identifying numbers allow you to track PHMSA's rulemaking activities:
(a) Docket number. We assign an identifying number, called a docket number, to each rulemaking proceeding. Each rulemaking document that PHMSA issues in a particular rulemaking proceeding will display the same docket number. This number allows you to do the following:
(1) Associate related documents that appear in the Federal Register.
(2) Search the DOT Docket Management System (“DMS”) for information on particular rulemaking proceedings—including notices of proposed rulemaking, public comments, petitions for rulemaking, appeals, records of additional rulemaking proceedings and final rules. There are two ways you can search the DMS:
(i) Visit the public docket room and review and copy any docketed materials during regular business hours. The DOT Docket Management System is located at the U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(ii) View and download docketed materials through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
(b) Regulation identifier number. The Department of Transportation publishes a semiannual agenda of all current and projected Department of Transportation rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed actions. This semiannual agenda appears in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations that is published in the Federal Register in April and October of each year. The semiannual agenda tells the public about the Department's—including PHMSA's—regulatory activities. The Department assigns a regulation identifier number (RIN) to each individual rulemaking proceeding in the semiannual agenda. This number appears on all rulemaking documents published in the Federal Register and makes it easy for you to track those rulemaking proceedings in both the Federal Register and the semiannual regulatory agenda itself, as well as to locate all documents in the Docket Management System pertaining to a particular rulemaking.
§ 106.50   Defined terms used in this subpart.
The following defined terms (see part 105, subpart A, of this subchapter) appear in this subpart: File; Person; Political subdivision; State.
§ 106.55   Public participation in the rulemaking process.
You may participate in PHMSA's rulemaking process by doing any of the following:
(a) File written comments on any rulemaking document that asks for comments, including an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of proposed rulemaking, interim final rule, or direct final rule.
(b) Ask that we hold a public meeting in any rulemaking proceeding and participate in any public meeting that we hold.
(c) File a petition for rulemaking that asks us to add, amend, or delete a regulation.
(d) File an appeal that asks us to reexamine our decision to issue all or part of a final rule, interim final rule, or direct final rule.
§ 106.60   Filing comments.
Anyone may file written comments about proposals made in any rulemaking document that requests public comments, including any State government agency, any political subdivision of a State, and any interested person invited by PHMSA to participate in the rulemaking process.
§ 106.65   Required information for written comments.
Your comments must be in English and must contain the following:
(a) The docket number of the rulemaking document you are commenting on, clearly set out at the beginning of your comments.
(b) Information, views, or arguments that follow the instructions for participation that appear in the rulemaking document on which you are commenting.
(c) All material that is relevant to any statement of fact in your comments.
(d) The document title and page number of any material that you reference in your comments.
§ 106.70   Where and when to file comments.
(a) Unless you are told to do otherwise in the rulemaking document on which you are commenting, send your comments to us in either of the following ways:
(1) By mail to: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(2) Through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
(b) Make sure that your comments reach us by the deadline set out in the rulemaking document on which you are commenting. We will consider late filed comments to the extent possible.
(c) We may reject comments that are not relevant to the rulemaking. We may reject comments you file electronically if you do not follow the electronic filing instructions at the DOT Web site.
§ 106.75   Extension of time to file comments.
You may ask for more time to file comments on a rulemaking proceeding. If PHMSA grants your request, it is granted to all persons. We will notify the public of the extension by publishing a document in the Federal Register. If PHMSA denies your request, PHMSA will notify you of the denial. To ask for more time, you must do the following:
(a) File a request for extension at least ten days before the end of the comment period established in the rulemaking document.
(b) Show that you have good cause for the extension and that an extension is in the public interest.
(c) Include the docket number of the rulemaking document you are seeking additional time to comment on, clearly set out at the beginning of your request.
(d) Send your request to: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
§ 106.80   Public meeting procedures.
A public meeting is a non-adversarial, fact-finding proceeding conducted by a PHMSA representative. Generally, public meetings are announced in the Federal Register. Interested persons are invited to attend and to present their views to the agency on specific issues. There are no formal pleadings and no adverse parties, and any regulation issued afterward is not necessarily based exclusively on the record of the meeting. Sections 556 and 557 of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 556 and 557) do not apply to public meetings under this part.
§ 106.85   Requesting a public meeting.
(a) You may ask for a public meeting by filing a written request with PHMSA no later than 20 days before the expiration of the comment period specified in the rulemaking document. Send your request for a public meeting to: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(b) PHMSA will review your request and, if you have shown good cause for a public meeting, we will grant it and publish a notice of the meeting in the Federal Register.
§ 106.90   Other rulemaking proceedings.
During a rulemaking proceeding, PHMSA may invite you to do the following:
(a) Participate in a conference at which minutes are taken.
(b) Make an oral presentation.
(c) Participate in any other public proceeding to ensure that PHMSA makes informed decisions during the rulemaking process and to protect the public interest, including a negotiated rulemaking or work group led by a facilitator.
§ 106.95   Requesting a change to the regulations.
You may ask PHMSA to add, amend, or delete a regulation by filing a petition for rulemaking as follows:
(a) For regulations in 49 CFR parts 110, 130, 171 through 180, submit the petition to: Standards and Rulemaking Division, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Attn: PHH-10, U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(b) For regulations in 49 CFR parts 105, 106, or 107, submit the petition to: Office of the Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Attn: PHC-10, U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
§ 106.100   Required information for a petition for rulemaking.
(a) You must include the following information in your petition for rulemaking:
(1) A summary of your proposed action and an explanation of its purpose.
(2) The language you propose for a new or amended rule, or the language you would delete from a current rule.
(3) An explanation of your interest in your proposed action and the interest of anyone you may represent.
(4) Information and arguments that support your proposed action, including relevant technical and scientific data available to you.
(5) Any specific cases that support or demonstrate the need for your proposed action.
(b) If the impact of your proposed action is substantial, and data or other information about that impact are available to you, we may ask that you provide information about the following:
(1) The costs and benefits of your proposed action to society in general, and identifiable groups within society in particular.
(2) The direct effects, including preemption effects under section 5125 of Federal hazardous materials transportation law, of your proposed action on States, on the relationship between the Federal government and the States, and on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. (See 49 CFR part 107, subpart C, regarding preemption.)
(3) The regulatory burden of your proposed action on small businesses, small organizations, small governmental jurisdictions, and Indian tribes.
(4) The recordkeeping and reporting burdens of your proposed action and whom they would affect.
(5) The effect of your proposed action on the quality of the natural and social environments.
§ 106.105   PHMSA response to a petition for rulemaking.
We will review and respond to your petition for rulemaking as follows:
§ 106.110   Appealing a PHMSA Action.
You may appeal the following PHMSA actions:
(a) PHMSA's issuance of a final rule or PHMSA's withdrawal of a notice of proposed rulemaking under the rulemaking procedures in this part. However, you may appeal PHMSA's issuance of a direct final rule only if you previously filed comments to the direct final rule (see § 106.40(e)).
(b) Any PHMSA decision on a petition for rulemaking.
§ 106.115   Required information for an appeal.
(a) Appeal of a final rule or withdrawal of a notice of proposed rulemaking. If you appeal PHMSA's issuance of a final rule or PHMSA's withdrawal of a notice of proposed rulemaking, your appeal must include the following:
(1) The docket number of the rulemaking you are concerned about, clearly set out at the beginning of your appeal.
(2) A brief statement of your concern about the final rule or the withdrawal of notice of proposed rulemaking at issue.
(3) An explanation of why compliance with the final rule is not practical, reasonable, or in the public interest.
(4) If you want PHMSA to consider more facts, the reason why you did not present those facts within the time given during the rulemaking process for public comment.
(b) Appeal of a decision. If you appeal PHMSA's decision on a petition for rulemaking, you must include the following:
(1) The contested aspects of the decision.
(2) Any new arguments or information.
§ 106.120   Appeal deadline.
(a) Appeal of a final rule or withdrawal of a notice of proposed rulemaking. If you appeal PHMSA's issuance of a final rule or PHMSA's withdrawal of a proposed rulemaking, your appeal document must reach us no later than 30 days after the date PHMSA published the regulation or the withdrawal notice in the Federal Register. After that time, PHMSA will consider your appeal to be a petition for rulemaking under § 106.100.
(b) Appeal of a decision. If you appeal PHMSA's decision on a petition for rulemaking, your appeal document must reach us no later than 30 days from the date PHMSA served you with written notice of PHMSA's decision.
§ 106.125   Filing an appeal.
Send your appeal to: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
§ 106.130   PHMSA response to an appeal.
Unless PHMSA provides otherwise, filing an appeal will not keep a final rule from becoming effective. We will handle an appeal according to the following procedures:
(a) Appeal of a final rule or withdrawal of a notice of proposed rulemaking. (1) We may consolidate your appeal with other appeals of the same rule.
(2) We may grant or deny your appeal, in whole or in part, without further rulemaking proceedings, unless granting your appeal would result in the issuance of a new final rule.
(3) If we decide to grant your appeal, we may schedule further proceedings and an opportunity to comment.
(4) PHMSA will notify you, in writing, of the action on your appeal within 90 days after the date that PHMSA published the final rule or withdrawal of notice of proposed rulemaking at issue in the Federal Register. If we do not issue a decision on your appeal within the 90-day period and we anticipate a substantial delay, we will notify you directly about the delay and will give you an expected decision date. We will also publish a notice of the delay in the Federal Register.
(b) Appeal of a decision. (1) We will not consider your appeal if it merely repeats arguments that PHMSA has previously rejected.
(2) PHMSA will notify you, in writing, of the action on your appeal within 90 days after the date that PHMSA served you with written notice of its decision on your petition for rulemaking. If we do not issue a decision on your appeal within the 90-day period, and we anticipate a substantial delay, we will notify you directly about the delay and will give you an expected decision date.